Narrative accounts of illness in schizophrenia: association of different forms of awareness with neurocognition and social function over time.
Awareness of illness in schizophrenia reflects complex storied understanding of the impact of the disorder upon one's life. Individuals may be aware of their illness in different ways and this may be related to their functioning. A total of 76 adults with schizophrenia were assessed for their awareness of illness, neurocognition, social cognition, and social function concurrently and social function was also assessed at three later time points. A cluster analysis revealed 3 groups: generally full awareness, generally limited awareness, and superficial awareness. Comparisons between these profiles revealed the superficial group had poorer executive function, emotion recognition ability, and capacity for social relationships than the full awareness group, yet had better verbal memory and more social contacts than the limited awareness group. These results suggest assessing the narrative qualities of awareness of illness may reveal unique links with cognition and function, and this may have implications for interventions.
Lysaker
Paul H
PH
Department of Psychiatry, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Day Hospital 116H, 1481 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. PLysaker@iupui.edu
Tsai
Jack
J
Maulucci
Alyssa M
AM
Stanghellini
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012564:Schizophrenic Language; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012928:Social Desirability